In March 2019 researchers from China published their review of the medical scientific literature to assess the association between maternal acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) use during pregnancy and the risk of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in offspring. A total of 8 studies, involving 244,940 individuals, were included in the study. Results showed that maternal exposure to acetaminophen during pregnancy increased the risk of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in offspring. In fact, children whose mothers had used acetaminophen in the third trimester of pregnancy appeared to have a higher risk of developing attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder as well as those whose mothers had used acetaminophen for 28 or more days during gestation.
Gou X et al. Association of maternal prenatal acetaminophen use with the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring: A meta-analysis. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2019 Mar;53(3):195-206